AA in Treatment Settings

This workshop looks at how AA carries the message into Treatment Settings.

Based on the pamphlets ‘AA in Treatment Settings’ the relevant sections of the AA Big Book. The workshop covers – The DOs and DON’Ts of speaking at Detoxes, Hospitals, Rehabs, and Drug & Alcohol Education Programs.

Also – hints and tips on organising member rosters, and interacting with facility staff and management.

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AA in Treatment Settings Workshop – Summary of the presentation

Carrying the message – Chapter Seven

Notes from reading the AA Big Book, Chapter 7 “Working With Others” pages 89 to 95:

• The chapter is written as if we are talking to someone one-on-one in hospital or in their home.
• The same principles apply and can be adapted when talking to a group of people in a treatment setting.
• We talk about our own drinking.
• We are not trying to convince other people to stop.
• Always be friendly.
• “To be helpful is our only aim.”
• Even if someone doesn’t want to stop, we have been the friendly and helpful face of AA.
• We share from our own experience.
• We describe ourselves as alcoholics.
• In particular, we talk about the craving after the first drink.
• We talk about the problems caused by our drinking.
• We talk about our struggles to stop.
• We talk about the mental twist that leads to the first drink.
• We are not trying to convince the other person that they are alcoholic. We are trying to convince them that we are!
• Even if the person is not identifying, we have given them valuable knowledge about the craving after the first drink.
• “If he is alcoholic, he will understand you at once.”
• Quote from Dr Bob – “…he was the first living human with whom I had ever talked, who knew what he was talking about in regard to alcoholism from actual experience.”
• We talk about the hopelessness and being powerless.
• We talk about own experience not from the book.
• We don’t brand the other person as an alcoholic.
• We talk about alcoholism as an illness.
• We describe the cycle from our own experience.
• Tell your story. Tell your story. Tell your story.
• Next, we give people hope!
• We then tell them how we got well!
• We talk about our experience of recovery. And we talk openly about the spiritual nature of the program.
• We emphasise that they can choose any belief (or non-belief) they like, as long as it makes sense to them. And we can talk about the wide variety of people and beliefs we see in AA.
• We tell them why we doing this – it’s important to our recovery. They are helping us!
• Be friendly.
• No pressure.
• They may now be thinking about their own drinking differently.
• We tell them about the fellowship and offer to help.
• We have given the someone the best possible introduction to the AA message!

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Treatment Settings

There are various ways AA members carry the message:

• One on one
  • Visiting someone hospital / detox / home detox
  • Helping someone get into treatment
  • Helping someone coming out of treatment
    (Bridging the Gap and Temporary Sponsorship)
• Sharing with a group
  • In a short-term detox
  • In a rehab or day program
  • At a non-AA drug & alcohol education program
• Running an AA meeting in a treatment centre
• Volunteering at a treatment centre

From our experience…

Hints and tips from our own experience carrying the message into Treatment Settings.

Introducing ourselves

When introducing ourselves, don’t just say “I’m an alcoholic”.

Say “I am a sober member of Alcoholics Anonymous”.

Identify as Recovered rather than Recovering.

How we share our drinking story

Speak directly. Use plain language.

We talk about our own drinking and our struggles to stop.

We talk from our own experience – it’s not a Big Book study.

Talk less about why we drank, and more about why we needed to stop.

We talk about the troubles caused by our drinking, not so much about the troubles that caused us to drink and relapse.

Don’t glamorise drinking.

Don’t describe the act of drinking in a seductive way.

Don’t boast about your drinking – how good it was, or how bad it was.

We are not trying to convince someone that they are alcoholic.

We are trying to convince them that we are alcoholic.

And that we are now happily sober.

How we share our AA Story

We talk about our own experience early in AA –
how we found it, what reservations we had, what misconceptions we had, what hope we found.

This is the best bit.

This is where we pass on HOPE!

Every time we use AA jargon, we need to explain what the terms mean…

• If we mention having a sponsor – explain what sponsorship is about.
• If we mention our home group – explain what a home group is.
• If we mention the Big Book – explain what the Big Book is.

Don’t use euphemisms.

What do these phrases mean in AA?

• “l took a hostage. “
• “l went out and did more research. “
• “l was a dry drunk. “

Does your audience know what they mean?

Be direct and simple.

Don’t say “In the rooms” – say “In AA”.

Use everyday language.

Always explain why we are trying to help.

“Part of my program to stay sober is to pass this information on to the next person. That’s why we are talking to you. “

Don’t hide or shy away from the spiritual nature of the AA program.

Being friendly

Be encouraging about being in treatment.

• “Well done for getting yourself into treatment.
• “You are in a safe place. “
• “You’ve made a great start. “
• “This can be a new beginning. “
• “l needed all the help I could get. “

Don’t be critical.

Don’t be critical of the treatment centre or it’s methods.

Don’t be critical of other AA members or AA groups.

Never be critical of other fellowships.

Don’t fob off people to other fellowships – invite them to an open AA meeting.

Never argue.

Listen.

Listen carefully to the questions and answer honestly.

Watch for the quiet ones and make sure they feel included.

The biggest barrier to someone going to an AA meeting is social anxiety.

Be reassuring.

Tell them about your own hesitations and misgivings.

Reassure people that AA is a friendly place – they will be made welcome.

They can phone and talk to a member before going to a meeting.

They can take a support person with them – spouse, family member, or friend.

They don’t have to speak or say anything at a meeting!

They can just listen.

Describe what to expect when they go to a meeting.

Talk about the variety of meetings – different sizes, formats and demographics.

Tell them about availability of AA meetings locally, and around the world.

Encourage anyone and everyone to attend an AA meeting.

The Traditions

The principles of the Traditions are reassuring to newcomers.

• Everyone is equal. There are no bosses.
• You can join no matter who you are, what your background is or what you have done.
• All the members are there because they want to stay sober. And they want you to get sober as well.
• There is a large variety of meetings because each group is autonomous.
• It won’t cost you anything.
• The program is entirely voluntary.
• You don’t have to commit to anything.
• You can remain anonymous.

Respect anonymity.

Maintain client confidentiality.

An Action Plan

Give clear instructions about what to next.

Give clear instructions about how to contact AA and how to find meetings.

1300 222 222 

aa.org.au

Have AA business cards and/or the AA at a glance” pamphlet to give away

Good relations with staff

Always engage with the staff before and after.

Start and finish on time.

Always thank the staff for the opportunity.

Invite staff members to an open meeting of AA.

Running Rosters

Find reliable members.

Recruit from your own group.

Have backup options.

Why we do this!

A Twelfth Step job shared by two or more AA members often creates special bond.

Taking a young member to their first Twelfth Step visit in a treatment facility is one of the greatest joys we experience in AA.

Carrying the message is the ‘work’ of the AA program.

“It works when all else fails. “

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Other Resources

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